Greek Theatre

• Greek Theatre

  Ancient greek drama
• Ancient greek drama


  • Theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece from 700 BC
  • Started as part of a festival called Dionysia, which honored the god Dionysus
  • Classical Greek valued power of spoken word and it was their main method of communication and storytelling
• Types of greek drama

  • Tragedy - focuses on serious matters
  • Comedy - Has humorous dialogue
  • Satire - focuses on greek mythology
• Tragedy and comedy flourished

  490 BC
• Oedipus the king


  • Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC
  • The story is about Oedipus search for the murderer of Laius to the end of the plague ravaging Thebes
• Medea


  • Ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides based on the myth of Jason and Medea
  • First produced in 431 BC
  • The plot centers on Medea's revenge against Jason's betrayal of her with another woman
• The stage (its three main portions)

  • Skene - Portion of the stage where actors perform
  • Orchestra - Dancing place, where chorus sang to the audience
  • Theatron - Seating for audience
• Scenic elements commonly used in greek theatre

  • Mechane - A crane that gave the impression of a flying actor
  • Ekkyklema - A wheeled platform used to bring dead characters into view for the audience
  • Pinakes - Pictures hung to create scenery
  • Thyromata - More complex pictures built into the second or third level of the skene
• Greek theatre costumes

  • Prosporon - Face, the ancient greek mask
  • Skeuopoios - Maker of the properties, mask makers
  • Cothurni - Actors with tragic roles wore these boots
  • Socks or Soccus - Actors with comedic roles wore these
• Greek Theatre

  Ancient greek drama
• Ancient greek drama


  • Theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece from 700 BC
  • Started as part of a festival called Dionysia, which honored the god Dionysus
  • Classical Greek valued power of spoken word and it was their main method of communication and storytelling
• Types of greek drama

  • Tragedy - focuses on serious matters
  • Comedy - Has humorous dialogue
  • Satire - focuses on greek mythology
• Tragedy and comedy flourished

  490 BC
• Oedipus the king


  • Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC
  • Story is about Oedipus search for the murderer of Laius to the end of the plague ravaging Thebes
• Medea


  • Ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides based on the myth of Jason and Medea
  • First produced in 431 BC
  • Plot centers on Medea's revenge against Jason's betrayal of her with another woman
• The stage (its three main portions)

  • Skene - Portion of the stage where actors perform
  • Orchestra - Dancing place, where chorus sang to the audience
  • Theatron - Seating for audience
• Skene


  • Include 1-3 doors in and out
  • Has 2-3 floors
• Mechane


  • A crane that gave the impression of a flying actor
• Ekkyklema


  • A wheeled platform used to bring dead characters into view for the audience
• Pinakes


  • Pictures hung to create scenery, only on the first level of the skene
• Thyromata


  • More complex pictures built into the second or third level of the skene
• Greek theatre costumes

  • Prosporon - Face, the ancient greek mask
  • Skeuopoios - Maker of the properties, mask makers
  • Cothurni - Actors with tragic roles wore these boots
  • Socks or Soccus - Actors with comedic roles wore these